When I was younger I would regularly work through a bunch of scales in several positions on the neck, ALWAYS using a metronome and picking at either 1/4 or 1/8 notes.Then I set off on practicing to a few records, playing songs I knew and then trying some songs that I struggled with, focusing on the parts that I needed to learn.In the back of my Guitar Handbook was a bunch of chords, so I'd go through some of them, always trying to learn new chords or different inversions.Granted, it's been a LONG time since I've had a practice routine, but all that work I put in when I was younger has really paid off over the years.

When I was younger I would regularly work through a bunch of scales in several positions on the neck, ALWAYS using a metronome and picking at either 1/4 or 1/8 notes.Then I set off on practicing to a few records, playing songs I knew and then trying some songs that I struggled with, focusing on the parts that I needed to learn.In the back of my Guitar Handbook was a bunch of chords, so I'd go through some of them, always trying to learn new chords or different inversions.Granted, it's been a LONG time since I've had a practice routine, but all that work I put in when I was younger has really paid off over the years.

I do a lot more playing than practicing anything new, but I've had a desire to, once I finish my seminary classes, go take some serious classical guitar lessons.It's a discipline I've always wanted to learn and would like to pick it up before I turn 50. THAT will require me to practice again.

I do a lot more playing than practicing anything new, but I've had a desire to, once I finish my seminary classes, go take some serious classical guitar lessons.It's a discipline I've always wanted to learn and would like to pick it up before I turn 50. THAT will require me to practice again.

I've heard this quote before from professionals in the music business. The first person that comes to mind is Jeremy Haynes.

To answer the original question, personally I find it more productive learning a song. I may spend 5-10 minutes playing scales, but then I spend the rest of the time learning a song. (p.s. This is coming from a intermediate guitar player)

I've heard this quote before from professionals in the music business. The first person that comes to mind is Jeremy Haynes.

To answer the original question, personally I find it more productive learning a song. I may spend 5-10 minutes playing scales, but then I spend the rest of the time learning a song. (p.s. This is coming from a intermediate guitar player)

I also find it more productive to learn songs, but the one drawback to that approach (at least for me) is that it limits the opportunity to develop new techniques. But then again, I guess that would depend a lot on the type of music you're learning. Most of my time is spent practicing songs for our worship team and while I do have some leeway one it comes to solos, I don't really get to develop my chops as I would like to. But limited time is a factor here too.